So much of the world is encountering Olympic withdrawals.
With this year’s Games in the books, this past week was one where the many triumphs and storylines of Paris 2024 were discussed.
One of the key storylines of the Games pertained to gender equality and that Paris’ Olympics were the first to achieve such a feat.
This is certainly an important milestone in women’s sports especially when one considers the history of the Olympics. There was once a time where the idea of women even being part of an athletic competition such as the Olympics was seen as sacrilege.
Now, we are seeing women both in the United States as well as all around the world complete their stories of triumph under the bright Olympic lights.
In a Games such as Paris’ that were heralded for achieving gender equality in terms of number of Olympians, one knew that there would be plenty of stories that would warm one’s heart and emphasize what is indeed possible as long as a commitment to the goal is maintained.
It was very bit difficult to narrow a list of inspiring women Olympian stories down to 10, but here are the ones that particularly caught our eye as we watched Paris 2024 from start to finish.
Brittney Griner
Two years ago, we were horrified because of the unfortunate situation that befell Brittney Griner when she was held captive in a Russian prison. Because of how awful the conditions were, it was a question as to if she would even survive what happened.
Griner was freed in a prisoner exchange between Russia and the Biden-Harris administration. One would not have blamed BG if she decided to never travel overseas again, but she made a commitment to be on the national team once again for Paris 2024.
Team USA won gold – and Griner’s response to hear the national anthem of the country that saved her when she needed it most was nothing short of a tearjerker.
Imane Khelif
One of the early controversies that people latched on to, shamelessly, occurred in the boxing ring at Paris 2024.
Khelif was in said ring with a boxer out of Italy (Angela Carini) who complained about how hard she was being hit during the match. This prompted many to dream up sexist and transphobic conspiracy theories about Khelif was really a man.
It was more than proven that she is a woman – she just had higher testosterone levels. Ultimately, she won gold and it appears she is going next after two of the bad power brokers that were critical in pushing their hate forward.
Khelif represents Algeria – a nation with some of the strictest anti-LGBT laws in the world.
Simone Biles
It was during the Olympics eight years ago in Rio de Janeiro that Simone Biles first became a household name.
It was during the Olympics three years ago in Tokyo that people were criticizing Biles because she dared to prioritize her mental health.
It was during these Games where she proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that prioritizing one’s mental health actually makes one stronger as opposed to weaker. Biles claimed gold medals in the women’s individual all around and in the team all around. The floor exercise final would see Biles win silver.
In the individual all-around event, Suni Lee won bronze.
Sha’Carri Richardson
Richardson’s moment was supposed to be three years ago in Tokyo.
Prior to the Tokyo Olympics, Richardson had won the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene.
Unfortunately, she was unable to compete in the 100 meters three years ago because she tested positive for THC. Richardson was going through a tough time back then as her biological mother had passed away.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley mentions “delayed, but not denied” as one of the many mantras she goes by as a coach and as a woman. It certainly applied to Richardson as she won gold in the women’s 4×100 relay.
Julien Alfred
Speaking of Richardson, in the women’s 100 meter final, she ended up with silver when many pundits tabbed her as a favorite to win gold.
The participant representing St. Lucia who also is on the track team at the University of Texas was the reason Richardson’s quest for gold lasted a few more days.
What made what Alfred did so significant was that it was the first-ever medal that was won for the country – and it happened to be the medal of all medals. There was a watch party that was held in St. Lucia for the women’s 100 meter final which, of course, resulted in jubilation at its conclusion.
Lynzee Brown
For many, the Olympics also introduced plenty of fans to the name Lynnzee Brown.
Currently, she is an assistant coach for the artistic gymnastics team at Penn State. But she made history by becoming the first woman artistic gymnast to represent the island nation of Haiti.
Brown was also one of Haiti’s flagbearers during the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony which took place along the Seine River (which received criticism for e-coli levels in reference to the triathlon). She previously participated on the gymnastics team at the University of Denver.
Prior to arriving Denver, Penn State and the Olympic big time, she came from Raytown, Missouri which is a suburb of Kansas City.
Lauren Scruggs
For the USA, so many of the stories of triumph at the Olympics came courtesy of Black women.
One of the many stories of Black Girl Magic at this year’s Games came courtesy of 21-year-old Lauren Scruggs. In the women’s individual foil, the final came down to Scruggs and one of her American teammates in Lee Kiefer.
Kiefer may have topped Scruggs in the individual foil competition final by a tally of 15-6, but Scruggs made history by becoming the first Black American woman to claim an individual fencing medal. In addition, Scruggs clinched a team gold for Team USA.
Cindy Ngamba
It was in March of 2016 when Thomas Bach, who is the president of the IOC, announced the creation of the Refugee Olympic Team.
The team competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and at the Olympics in Tokyo three years ago, but no medals.
We highlighted boxing a bit earlier with Khelif won gold amidst all of the sexism and transphobia she encountered. In the women’s 75 kilogram boxing event at Paris 2024, Cindy Ngamba became the first individual to win a medal for the Refugee Olympic Team (along with Caitlin Parker of Australia. Li Qian (China) won gold and Atheyna Bylon of Panama claimed a silver medal.
Swimmers
It was in 2008 when Michael Phelps made history at the Beijing 2008 Olympics by claiming eight gold medals.
Since then, the sport of swimming has taken on an elevated significance. In recent years, Katie Ledecky has carried the mantle for swimming in the United States on the women’s end of the ledger. In Paris, Ledecky claimed gold medals in the 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyle events. She won silver in the 4×200 meter freestyle and bronze in the 400 meters.
Meanwhile in Canada, another summer by the name of Summer McIntosh – weeks prior to turning 18 – appears to have next in swimming. McIntosh returned to Canada with three gold medals plus a silver.
Sifan Hassan
In the marathon events, Sifan Hassan’s time in Paris concluded with a gold medal and a pair of bronze medals. She won a gold in the women’s marathon and the bronze medals she claimed were in the 5000 meters and the 10,000 meters.
Her time of 2:22:55 was not only enough to win gold, but it also set a new Olympic record for the women’s marathon. What she did following winning her gold medal was even more significant.
Hassan wore a hijab to the podium in support of Muslim women. Women who wear hijabs are often discriminated against in France and French athletes were banned from wearing hijabs at the Olympics.
